"We discovered this week that there was actually a small tear and that surgery would be his best option," Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said on the team’s website. "The typical recovery time for an injury like this is six weeks, so our hope is he will be ready by the start of the regular season."

After a breakout season in 2012-13, Prout had been expected to have a key role in the Blue Jackets’ defense. The Columbus Dispatch’s Aaron Portzline said Prout “excelled” after being recalled in late February.

Prout (6-3, 219) had a plus-15 rating, which led the Blue Jackets and was second in the league among rookie defensemen. He played in 28 games and scored one goal, with six assists and 25 penalty minutes, last season.

According to the Dispatch’s Portzline, Prout might have received consideration for the Calder Trophy (rookie of the year) had he appeared in more games.